Are you agnostic?

Yes, I can. Perhaps the most important things are things that cannot be empirically known. My question is how are other paths to truth evaluated? Why is Christian truth more valid than Nazi truth? Or if that is too dramatic, why is Christian fundamentalist truth more or less valid than Buddhist truth?

By the way, I am a devout Christian. So I understand your question very well. I also puzzle over my question as well. In fact, the only valid stance for a Christian is that of faith accompanied by the right amount of humilty and uncertainty.

Hah! If it turns out I'm wrong, then I hope that's the case.

I suppose never feeling the need to have an afterlife has been a major influence on my religious beliefs. I find the whole idea unfathomable, and see no reason to need an afterlife.

Since the afterlife is the crux of most major religions and the driving force behind their moral influence, and since it has no meaning to me, it's kind of a major conflict to being a part of an organized religion.

If I make a positive impact on the world, that's enough legacy for me. I don't need a seat on a cloud somewhere to watch it play out.

Why did you pick that particular one? Surely there are others which are just as valid. For example, what is your opinion on the beliefs of Hindus or Muslims, who would probably say something similar but just pick a different god.

Not true. Many new theories are provisional, but ones that have been around for a while are as permanent as anything - the law of gravity doesn't change. When theories are updated it is usually not something 'very different', but a slight modification because of new evidence - the evolution of man is a good case in point, as there are few remains available.

I can't decide whether I'm agnostic or atheist, but am convinced that all religions are man-made. 'God' has never shown himself or interfered with humankind so he may as well not exist.

yeah, i think too many people get hung up on the afterlife aspect of faith. yes, i believe that there is something more after this life...i should say "beyond" rather than after, because it's there even while we're here. i can't profess to know what form it takes and get frightened and excited whenever i think about it (which i think is the only really logical reaction to have when considering the vast mystery of what lies beyond our own knowledge). but if you're hanging your morality on what rewards/punishments you might get in the NEXT life, you're approaching it from the wrong angle. we have to do right in this world because it's the right thing to do. heck, even Jesus himself talked about manifesting Heaven and the Kingdom of God here on Earth through our faith and good actions. it's not a place we need to die in order to get to. it's a place we could build here and now, regardless of faith, just through doing right by one another. hell, then at least even if the atheists are right, we all get a taste of it while we're here.

I agree with that. There is no evidence for any kind of an afterlife, but of course it's impossible to know. As far as we can tell, this is the only life we have. So we might as well enjoy it!

I have a Masters of Divinity from a Southern Baptist seminary. I started questioning my religious beliefs while questioning my sexuality. I was a very mystical believer until about 5 years ago when my scientific reading made me firmly agnostic. I reserve the right to say there might be something off of the charts we aren't aware of, but I have not seen any proof of it so far. I am very comfortable with thinking that dying is like dreamless sleep and I do not fear the experience....... just not any time soon, please.

It's a long story of how I went from point A to point C. I'll have to write about it.

What exactly are you referring to when you talk about things that cannot be measured? One obvious answer I can think of is happiness. But just because it cannot be measured doesn't mean you should abandon a rational approach to analysing it.
Also I would argue that the Christian view is just as invalid as the Nazi view (although no doubt Christian beliefs are less extreme), because they are both dogmatic rather than based on sound argument with evidence.

I am Wiccan. I think deep down we all believe in a higher power, we just call her by different names, i.e. Goddess, God, All there is.

but we are not talking abot only God or faith here are we ? we are considering Knowledge. or maybe Truth or "Ultimate Truth" if there is such a thing.

i just wonder if the act of measuring the absoluteness of that same "ultimate truth" would make it less absolute.